The January 9 episode of WWE SmackDown on the USA Network recorded an average audience of 990,000 viewers and a 0.26 rating in the key 18-49 demographic, according to WrestleNomics. This marks a notable reduction in WWE SmackDown viewership ratings, reflecting a 15.74% drop from the previous week’s 1.175 million viewers and a 7.14% decline from the 0.28 demographic rating seen in the prior episode.
Lowest Ratings and Viewership Levels Since Late 2025
The current 0.26 rating is the lowest for WWE SmackDown since the December 19, 2025 episode, which had a 0.21 rating in the same age group. Furthermore, the total audience count for this January 9 show was the smallest since the December 31, 2025 broadcast, which attracted just 933,000 viewers. Despite this downturn, SmackDown still ranked second in ratings for the night, narrowly behind ESPN’s college football playoff game that pulled a substantial 2.17 rating and 17.164 million viewers.
Comparison with Previous Year’s Performance Shows Waning Interest
In 2026, WWE SmackDown’s average rating stands at 0.27 with about 1.083 million viewers per episode, contrasting sharply with early 2025’s stronger performance where the first two weeks averaged a 0.43 rating and 1.482 million viewers. This decline underscores a shrinking audience for the show over the past year.
Featured Highlights from the Episode
The episode included a major segment featuring Cody Rhodes, known as The American Nightmare, defending his Undisputed WWE Championship against Drew McIntyre, The Scottish Warrior, in a challenging Three Stages of Hell Match. Despite the high-profile contest, the ratings continued to slide, suggesting broader issues with audience engagement.
Implications of the Falling Ratings for WWE SmackDown
The ongoing decrease in WWE SmackDown viewership ratings signals potential challenges for the program’s appeal and sustainability in its current form. The drop may lead to reassessments of content strategy or scheduling, especially as it competes with high-profile sporting events like the college football playoff. Future episodes will be critical in determining whether the show can recapture lost viewers or if this marks the beginning of a sustained decline.
WWE Smackdown, Jan 9 on USA Network: 990,000 viewers; 0.26 P18-49 rating | TV ratings analysis #Smackdown https://t.co/qaJSmRyso8
— Wrestlenomics (@wrestlenomics) January 14, 2026
